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Harvard School Committee approves 9th-grade D.C. trip, several policies and facility requests
Summary
The committee approved an overnight Washington, D.C. trip for 9th graders, updated multiple policies including a middle-school pathway exploration policy, and approved classroom furniture and a water heater replacement funded via the Shaw Trust; all recorded votes were 5–0.
The Harvard School Committee on Nov. 10 approved a package of routine and programmatic items, including a 9th-grade overnight trip to Washington, D.C., policy updates and facility requests from a local trust.
Superintendent Dr. Linda Dwight presented the proposed March 10–13 Washington, D.C. trip for 9th graders, organized with Capital Tours. The committee was told the trip typically draws attendance in the high 90s, costs under $1,000 per student and will include accommodations for students with diverse needs; members agreed to seek scholarships from the Harvard Schools Trust to reduce financial barriers. A motion to approve the overnight out-of-state trip passed by roll call vote, 5–0.
The committee also reviewed and approved revisions to the HPS Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy, which reduce the number of listed vocational program options from 23 to 21 and reaffirm the district’s coordination with Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School for 8th-grade campus visits and applications. Dana Labb read the policy for a second time; the motion to adopt the policy passed by roll call vote, 5–0.
Dr. Dwight presented two Shaw Trust requests — classroom furniture for an academic center and a water heater replacement — both of which the committee approved by roll call vote, 5–0. Committee members additionally approved five policy updates aligned with Massachusetts Association of School Committees guidance (Policies JHD, JIB, JIC, JICC and JICFB). Dr. Katharine Covino read Policy JICF (gangs and secret societies) for a first reading and the committee asked for edits before a second reading at the next full meeting.
The committee approved a PTO grant of $972.33 to support expansion of the Pre-K science curriculum and approved the Oct. 27 minutes without objection.
The approvals were procedural and reflected unanimous support across the five members present; items requiring further revision (Policy JICF) will return for a second reading at a future meeting.
